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Spring training likely delayed after latest lockout meeting

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Spring training games likely delayed after latest MLB lockout meeting

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 2/17/22

Nervous baseball fans hoping that the ongoing lockout won't cause the postponement or cancellation of Opening Day games scheduled for March 31 received some positive news Wednesday when it was revealed MLB owners and MLB Players Association representatives would meet again Thursday. Presumably, the sides were set to at least discuss big-money issues that reportedly have the sides "far apart" from putting pen to paper on a deal.

Such optimism disappeared rather quickly.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Joon Lee of ESPN and others, Thursday's session between owners and the union lasted roughly 15 minutes. Lee added a separate conversation occurred shortly after the supposed meeting.

Dan Halem of MLB and Bruce Meyer of the MLBPA had a 20 minute side conversation after the meeting
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) February 17, 2022

Both Nightengale and ESPN's Jeff Passan explained the parties are no closer to even flirting with signing an agreement than they were on Wednesday night.

The MLBPA backed off it’s request for arbitration for all players with 2+ years of service today, requesting instead 80% of players go into the system. Additionally, the union requested an increase in its pre-arb bonus pool ask from $100 million to $115 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2022

The #MLBPA requested an increase from $100 million to $115 million in its pre-arbitration bonus pool in its latest proposal in exchange for the arbitration eligibility class to include 80% of its players with 2 years of service instead of 100%. MLB called it a non-starter.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 17, 2022

Per MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, "almost no progress" was made after the MLBPA was reportedly left "unimpressed" by Saturday's offer from the owners.

Players union lowered the percentage of 2-year players the request to get arbitration from 100 percent to 80 percent (MLB is at 22 percent, status quo) and actually raised the bonus pool request from $100M to $115M (MLB is at $15M) so they actually lost ground on that.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2022

So one day after spring training workouts were supposed to begin, almost no/no progress was made. The union obviously didn’t think much of MLB’s last offer, so they moved basically not at all. Sides are now $100M apart on the bonus pool for 0-3 players instead of $85M.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2022

One piece of good news is that The Athletic's Evan Drellich reports MLB will "get back to" the union regarding a next negotiating session, so the sides are at least talking about talking again down the road. Unfortunately, Nightengale noted it now seems "impossible" that spring training games will begin on Feb. 26, as scheduled.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said last week teams and players will want a four-week spring training to prepare for meaningful regular-season matchups. That timeline makes March 3 the last day camps theoretically can start before Opening Day contests are either pushed back, converted into doubleheaders or canceled.

Too much is being read into the short length of the meetings. While MLB side would prefer give and take, union has signaled it prefers just to present proposals at the meeting. The bigger issue is taking 5 days to present an offer that is about the same as the previous offer.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2022

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